Skip to content
Become a Partner

UKGC Finds Own-Money Gambling Down to 26% Among 11-17s

UKGC Finds Own-Money Gambling Down to 26% Among 11-17s
The share of 11-17-year-olds in Great Britain who spent their own money on gambling fell from 30% in 2025 to 26% in 2026. The Gambling Commission also found an increase in young people reporting that advertisements had prompted unplanned gambling spending.

Ipsos surveyed 3,867 school pupils in England, Scotland and Wales between January and June. The 2026 report, released on November 12, covers both age-restricted gambling and activities children can legally access.

Arcade Play and Family Bets Decline

Most reported spending involved arcade machines or bets with friends and family. The year-on-year figures show:

  • 19% spent money on arcade machines, down from 21%;
  • 11% bet with friends or family, down from 14%;
  • 5% spent money on age-restricted gambling products in 2026.

The decline was particularly noticeable among boys. Their participation fell from 34% to 26%, while the figure for girls moved from 27% to 25%.

15M’s comparison of the annual estimates shows that the seven-percentage-point gender gap in the 2025 survey narrowed to one point. The UKGC found no statistically significant difference between boys and girls in 2026.

Ben Haden, the Commission’s Director of Research and Statistics, said the priority was ensuring children "are not able to spend money on age-restricted gambling products."

More Children Report Spending After Seeing Ads

One result moved in the opposite direction. Of those who recalled gambling advertisements, 10% said an ad or promotion had prompted spending they had not planned. The figure was 7% in 2025. UKGC marks the increase as statistically significant.

There is a problem with taking that response at face value. Among those reporting such prompting, 28% recorded no gambling participation elsewhere in the survey. The Commission has previously cautioned against treating these answers as proof that advertising caused gambling.

Weekly exposure to gambling ads on social media stood at 55%. UKGC changed the frequency question this year, ruling out a direct comparison with the 2025 figure.

Online Betting Remains at Low Levels

Online gambling experience was reported by 7% of pupils, against 8% last year. Betting websites or apps and online casino games each appeared in 3% of responses. Those figures also cover gambling without spending personal money. For own-money spending, both categories registered just 1%, with no significant change from 2025.

The findings follow advertising restrictions proposed by a parliamentary gambling reform group earlier this year, as reported by 15M in April.

Author of the news

Content writer

Olga is an iGaming editor and writer with hands-on experience in the industry since 2023. She covers industry news, operator updates, product launches, and key developments across the global gambling market.

Author Profile

Have you enjoyed the news?

Content

Categories